FluidEQ vs FxSound
FxSound alternative
FxSound reaches your sound through a virtual output it makes your default device. FluidEQ has no virtual device: its engine works inside Windows’ own audio service, with a parametric equalizer, headphone corrections and a DSP rack.
Side by side
Both are free and open source. Where they differ is how they reach your sound, and how far the equalizer goes.
| FluidEQ | FxSound | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, with every sound feature. FluidEQ Plus, optional, adds visualizers | Free, funded by donations |
| Source code | Open source, GPL-3.0 | Open source, AGPL-3.0; its audio driver ships as a prebuilt binary |
| How it reaches your sound | Its own engine, inside Windows’ audio service and after your sound card’s effects — or Equalizer APO, if you choose it | Through a virtual device, “FxSound Speakers”, made your default output; it captures that and plays it to your real device |
| Equalizer | Parametric, up to 128 bands with every filter type, under Bass, Mid and Treble knobs | 5 to 31 bands at up to ±12 dB; each band’s frequency moves, but one Q is shared by all of them |
| Headphone correction | 6,229 headphone models, built in and offline | None |
| Effects | A 10-stage DSP rack on everything you hear, with surround on headphones in its Room | Clarity, Ambience, Surround Sound, Dynamic Boost and Bass Boost sliders, and volume leveling |
| Headphones and speakers | Each output keeps its own tuning, and gets it back when you switch to it | A preset for each output device, and hotkeys |
| Installing | One Windows permission and no reboot on its own engine | Installs its virtual audio driver |
| Runs on | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows 7 to 11 |
When FxSound is still the better choice
You want five sliders, not an equalizerClarity, Ambience, Surround Sound, Dynamic Boost and Bass Boost each run from 0 to 10, for anyone who would rather not look at a curve.
You still run Windows 7FxSound still ships for Windows 7. FluidEQ needs Windows 10 or 11.
Switching from FxSound
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1
Turn FxSound off firstTwo enhancers on one output process your sound twice. Turning FxSound off hands Windows its real output device back.
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2
Install FluidEQIts engine works on your real output, inside Windows’ audio service: there is no virtual device to make the default.
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3
Start from your music or your headphonesPick a starting point for what you play, or your model from 6,229 headphone corrections, then shape it with Bass, Mid and Treble.
Every claim about FxSound on this page was checked against its maker’s own site on October 1, 2026. If one has changed since, write to support@fluideq.com and the page will be corrected. FxSound belongs to its maker and is named here only to compare.